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Ignoring terrorism

It’s too bad that the recent win of the Brexit vote has in many ways detracted the public from the seriousness of the brutal murder earlier this month of British MP Jo Cox. Mainstream media headlines labeled the suspect Thomas Mair as merely as a man charged with murder.

This is despite his self-proclaimed right wing extremist ideology, his alleged ties to white supremacist groups, and his repeated shouts to “put Britain first” as he went on to mercilessly stab and then shoot to death a member of Britain’s highest legislative body. Cox had just prior made a passionate plea to remain within the European Union.

The FBI defines terrorism as a violent act that is “intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population” or “to influence the policy of a government.” It seems like both were in play here.

To avoid setting a dangerous precedent to other would-be terrorists by using language that tacitly lightens the intensity of the crime, media pundits bear a responsibility to call it like it is. And irrespective of the outcome of the referendum,

Cox’s murder needs to be sharply condemned as nothing short of grave terrorism against an entire nation.

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